Dietitian-led education program to improve phosphate control in a single-center hemodialysis population.

Objective: We sought to analyze the effect of a structured, dietitian-led education program on patients' general knowledge of phosphate and phosphate binders, and its impact on serum phosphate concentrations in a single-center hemodialysis population.

Design: We compared subjects before and after intervention.

Setting: This study involved two dialysis units operated by a single center.

Prevention of propofol pain: a comparative study.

A common drawback of propofol is pain on injection and lignocaine is commonly mixed with propofol to reduce the incidence and severity of this pain. In this study we sought to draw a comparison between the effectiveness of propofol medium chain and long chain triglyceride (MCT/LCT) alone, propofol medium chain and long chain triglyceride (MCT/LCT) premixed with lignocaine, and propofol long chain triglyceride (LCT) premixed with lignocaine, in preventing propofol pain on injection. 300 patients were randomly divided into three equal groups.

Head-supporting sign during reclining: an indication of craniovertebral junction involvement.

The craniovertebral (CV) junction can be involved in many diseases, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, as well as destructive bone pathologies such as tumour and tuberculosis (craniovertebral Pott's disease).

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation artifact during electroencephalography.

Artifacts are signals recorded on the electroencephalogram (EEG) that are not cerebral in origin and can be divided into physiological and non-physiological artifacts. We present here an interesting non-physiological EEG artifact generated by cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts.

Diagnosing cervical fusion: a comprehensive literature review.

Study Design: Comprehensive literature review.

Purpose: To document the criteria for fusion utilized in these studies to determine if a consensus on the definition of a solid fusion exists.

Overview Of Literature: Numerous studies have reported on fusion rates following anterior cervical arthrodesis.

Ipsilateral hemispheric ischaemic hypoxic changes during central line placement: a video-electroencephalogram correlate.

When venous access is needed for intravenous fluids or antibiotics and a peripheral site is unavailable or not suitable, a central line is placed either in the neck or the groin. Complications have been reported during central line placement including (but not limited to) pneumothorax, haemothorax, arrhythmias, air embolism and introduction of infection. The case history is reported of a patient who developed ipsilateral hemispheric ischaemic hypoxic changes during central line placement.

Epileptic disorders in pregnancy: an overview.

Purpose Of Review: Much new information has now become available regarding outcomes of women with epilepsy (WWE) and pregnancy.

Recent Findings: Valproate is associated with a risk of major congenital malformations within a range of 6.2-10.

Vagus nerve stimulation, sleep apnea, and CPAP titration.

Epilepsy and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are two relatively common disorders known to coexist and potentially exacerbate each other. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a currently used, adjunctive treatment for partial epilepsy and is generally well tolerated with few associated side effects. Some of the more common side effects include hoarseness of voice, laryngeal irritation and cough, especially after VNS current increases and the first few weeks of treatment.

Whose appendicectomy?--Do laparoscopic appendicectomies impair SHO training?

Introduction: Open appendicectomy is an ideal procedure for junior surgical trainees to develop operative skills. However, in recent years, we have noticed a decline in the number of appendicectomies performed by basic surgical trainees and a shift towards increasing use of laparoscopic appendicectomy. The aim of this study was to determine whether the growing popularity of laparoscopic appendicectomy is having a detrimental impact on the training experience of SHOs.

Tropical diabetic hand syndrome.

Tropical diabetic hand syndrome (TDHS) is a terminology used to describe a specific complication affecting patients with diabetes mellitus in the tropics. The syndrome encompasses a localized cellulitis with variable swelling and ulceration of the hands to progressive, fulminant hand sepsis, potentially fatal. Since this syndrome is less recognized it is often under-reported.

Long-term results with a simple technique of stoma creation after laryngectomy.

Stomal stenosis after laryngectomy has a major impact on patient rehabilitation. The major contributory factor is the operative technique. The goal is to achieve a widely patent stoma.

Endoscopic sinus surgery as day-case procedure.

Objective: Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is the mainstay of surgical treatment for chronic sinusitis. Day-case surgery has the advantage over in-patient surgery of being cost-effective and resource sparing. The objectives of this study were to assess our results for day-case functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Is nasal packing really required after septoplasty?

Objective: Septoplasty is one of the most common operations performed by otorhinolaryngologists. Nasal packing is not an innocuous procedure. The most common problem encountered by the patients after septoplasty is the pain and discomfort during removal of the nasal packs.